Delhi leaves power tariffs unchanged, gives people sops

New Delhi, Feb 22 (IANS) The residents of poll-bound Delhi will not pay more for consuming power, but in fact one rupee less per unit if they use up to 200 units in a month during periods when consumption peaks in high summer or winter. The Delhi government Friday decided not to touch power tariffs. A cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit instead decided to extend the subsidy of rupee one per unit to consumers using 150-200 units in a month.

“The subsidy will help over 10 lakh (1 million) families, who would be charged one rupee less per unit, that is, Rs.1.20 per unit during the six peak months of the year,” Sheila Dikshit told the media persons after the meeting.

Delhi Power Minister Ashok Kumar Walia said the subsidy would encourage people to save and use electricity economically.

“It is an incentive to save power and help out the economically weaker sections of the society,” Walia told the media persons.

Dikshit said the decision was a reflection on her government’s commitment to safeguard the interests of economically weaker sections.

During the peak months, demand of power in Delhi goes up to 4,300 MW, while supply veers around 3,500 MW at any point of time.

“Through such incentives, we intend to save a good quantity of power,” an official in the government’s power department said.